The Ripples Guy

I enjoy helping a few dozen clients each year as they organize events ranging from small trainings and state-wide meetings to national conferences and stadium-sized rallies, adapting my content and style to craft memorable presentations. Feel free to poke around here and contact me when you’re ready to explore possibilities. (Click the booking inquiry button there to reveal fee info.)

Biography:

Paul earned a B.A. in psychology from McKendree College where he was a resident assistant, programming board chair, student government officer, and the school mascot. He completed his M.A. in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University while interning first at Heidelberg College as Assistant Director of Residential Life and then as Coordinator of BGSU’s Student Wellness Program. He also worked with Owens Corning Fiberglas to develop an outcomes assessment tool for their alcohol/drug treatment program and was honored by BGSU’s faculty and students as the 1991 CSP Graduate Student of the Year.

Paul ventured to Wisconsin to accept a position at Beloit College as Assistant Director of Residential Life & Assistant Director of Summer Conferences. His next stop was the University of Wisconsin – Madison where he worked as a Residence Life Coordinator. He also began volunteering at Madison’s AIDS Network as a source of emotional support for people living with HIV/AIDS. Paul was eventually recruited to join AIDS Network’s management team as Director of Volunteer Services where he developed a pool of several hundred active volunteers.

Since 1990, Paul has been presenting conference workshops and designing staff training for a variety of organizations in the private and public sector. He gradually began receiving requests to deliver keynote addresses and in 1997 transformed a part-time hobby into a full-time career as a leadership trainer and keynoter. He currently works with 40 clients a year around North America with audiences ranging in size from a dozen to several thousand.

In 1999, Paul created Ripples, an inspirational Monday morning email that transformed into The Ripples Project, an organization with over 30,000 members whose mission is to encourage small waves of kindness.

Here’s me in action:

Program Topics

If you are preparing an event, please remember that I often tweak the titles, descriptions, and content to ideally match the presentations to each group’s needs!

This engaging session filled with humor, music, motivation and plenty of practical strategies began as a college assignment to “develop a workshop for people who help people” and evolved into Paul’s life work. You will enjoy yourself while we develop specific attitudes and behaviors that can have a lasting impact back on campus and in life. We will explore each component of the acronym G.R.E.A.T.: goal setting, role modeling, esteem building, attitude adjusting, and time/stress managing.

Remarkable interpersonal skills can deepen effectiveness with colleagues, supervisors, and others. This engaging workshop challenges participants to explore practical strategies that can help manage conflict, communicate feedback more effectively, and build strong relationships on the job.

Could you handle a stress-reducing, energy-infusing day with your entire team and one of the warmest, wildest trainers you are likely to encounter? This full day includes a fantastic combination of discussion, activities, music, reflection and humor. It is highly engaging, interactive without being “too touchy feely” and explores TWO components of personal leadership designed to help us reach new levels of effectiveness in work, school and life: Reaching OUT to improve interpersonal interactions with practical tools for building and maintaining powerful relationships, enhancing our communication techniques, and dealing with conflict; and Reaching IN to explore five strategies for personal empowerment that can unleash personal potential while encouraging others to reach for theirs: goal setting, role modeling, esteem building, attitude adjusting, and time & stress managing.

You’ve got great ideas, and there are lots of things your group could be tackling…but no one is stepping up to do the work! Motivation doesn’t have to be manipulation, and delegation is NOT about being lazy and tricking someone else to do a boring job. When employed correctly, they create opportunities for emerging leaders, enhance group cohesion, and increase productivity!

Change used to be something we “went through” and “handled” and “managed.” Our current state of frequent transition mandates a high degree of flexibility and adaptability. This comprehensive, action-oriented workshop is designed to explore key actions you can take NOW to ensure your ability to survive and thrive amidst the constant evolution at work and in life.

Many of us “helpers” are better at serving others than we are at taking care of ourselves. Isn’t it time to grab a little enhancement for us? If you have a little voice in your soul that says “you need to say no” but your mouth keeps opening and “YES, I’ll do it” keeps coming out of it, you need this session to help you explore practical ways to prevent and manage burnout. We are also going to discuss why we keep overworking ourselves to see if there are some better ways to accomplish things while we model self-care skills.

Even people who love their work can (and do!) burn out if their lives are not in balance. Of course, “in balance” means different things to different people and so we are going to approach stress and burnout management from a different perspective. Once we recognize that we all have limits on our time, energy and passion we can learn to set boundaries that help us maximize our resources. We will also explore a quick assessment to demonstrate our strengths and weaknesses in creating a balanced life.

This fast paced presentation allows new students to take the unique combination of FEAR and EXCITEMENT they experience during their first weeks at college and turn them into valuable tools to meet other people, increase academic performance, and develop an A+ attitude. Participants leave this high energy session equipped with specific skills to get more out of college AND life.

“If only I had more time, I could get everything done!” If you believe this, then you need to attend this strategy-filled, perspective-shifting session. Time is a more valuable commodity than money and it is VITAL for our success and sanity that we spend it well. In this fast-paced session we will explore some of the myths of time management and examine our weaknesses. You will leave this session with practical techniques for each of the four main skills of time management: motivation, organizing, priority setting, and scheduling.

Whether your organization has hundreds of employees or is made up of just you, the evolving entrepreneurial mind set in the workplace suggests that if you cannot demonstrate your value to your employer and customers, you may not last long! This comprehensive, action-oriented workshop is designed to explore key actions you can take NOW to ensure your ability to survive and thrive amidst the constant evolution of corporate philosophies.

In a world of competing priorities, multiple pressures from multiple sources and overwhelming societal challenges, many of us have buried our passion under years of stress, disappointment, and obstacles. And as we continue to become more exhausted, we struggle to find inspiration that will remind us why we pursued our goals in the first place! There is Hope! We are going to reach INSIDE and remember how and why we got here. We will also explore some proven strategies to rekindle our passion in ourselves so we can resume our life’s mission with renewed vigor!

(Alt Title #1) Higher Bridges, Lower Walls: Creating a Culture of Civility & Respect (Alt Title #2) Encouraging Inclusion: Leadership and the Art of Nurturing Diversity Each time one person feels less valued, the entire community suffers as that person withdraws her/his unique contributions. Whether we are thinking about our organization or considering the global community, leadership includes a responsibility to strengthen our individual and team potential. This dynamic session will explore the challenges and opportunities of working (and living) in a diverse environment.

Alt. Title #1: Are You Networthy? How to Build and Maintain Effective Connections Alt. Title #2: Keen Eye On the Social Guy: Confessions of a Serial Networker “I know I am supposed to NETWORK, but I don’t have much time and I don’t even know what I am supposed to be doing!” If that sounds familiar, you are not alone! Many people secretly despise the idea of “schmoozing” yet worry they are limiting their career potential without it. If you can attend one more networking workshop, we promise it could forever alter your approach to professional networking. You will leave this presentation with specific tools you can use to increase your productivity WHILE you network! Paul has promised to share easy and fun tips on building and maintaining a useful network as well as how to make “chit chat” opportunities more relaxed and beneficial for everyone involved.

Why do the majority of Americans think it is wrong to discriminate based on sexual orientation but are repulsed by the idea of same sex marriage? News of U.S. soldiers raping little girls in Japan draws little response from a society that is terrified of gay soldiers being in the showers with their peers. And why is violence against lesbians and gays at an all time high when other forms of violence are declining? Paul uses humor, anger, and tears to explore attitudes and behaviors around homosexuality. This workshop is NOT designed to change your opinion about homosexuality! Instead, we will create a safe environment to discuss YOUR thoughts/feelings about LGBT issues.

What is the difference between your CURRENT training sessions and the IDEAL presentations you would like to give? If you are seeking simple, proven techniques for increasing audience involvement and decreasing boredom, then you will enjoy this motivating demonstration of pragmatic strategies you will be able to immediately apply to your next training.

Paul Wesselmann, Stone Soup Seminars Involving participants is a core competency among presentation skills, but too often left up to the trainer’s personality or the presentation content. BUT WAIT! There are practical activities that you can add to almost any training to engage participants, encourage interaction, and make your job easier! We are going to explore a handful of specific activities and spend time adapting them to YOUR training needs.

Past Clients

Since 1990, I have had the privilege to work with hundreds of organizations to explore their individual and team potential. I try to keep this list up to date and accurate; please contact me about misspellings or omissions! I am also working on a Google Map that plots all the places I have presented.

Education

Almond-Bancroft School DistrictAlverno CollegeAntigo Senior High SchoolArizona State UniversityBeloit CollegeBowling Green State UniversityBrillion School DisctrictBryan School of NursingBuffalo State College
California State University – Monterey Bay
California State University – San BernadinoCalifornia Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)Capital Area UniServ – SouthCardinal Stritch UniversityCarroll CollegeCentral Michigan UniversityCentral Missouri State UniversityCentral Wisconsin AIDS NetworkCentralia CollegeChadron State CollegeClark CollegeColgate CollegeDane County Multicultural Youth Leadership ProjectDeKalb College (IL)DePaul University (IL)DePauw University (IN)Dickinson CollegeDrake UniversityDrew UniversityEast Carolina University
East Stroudsburg UniversityEdgewood CollegeEdinboro CollegeElizabethtown CollegeEdmonds Community College (WA)Erie Community College (NY)Forest County PartnershipFox Valley Technical College
Gateway Technical CollegeGeorge Mason University
Georgetown UniversityGeorgia Perimeter College
Georgia Southern UniversityGettysburg CollegeGrand Valley State UniversityGreensboro CollegeHillsborough (FL) School DistrictHope CollegeHurley High SchoolIllinois State UniversityIndiana UniversityIndiana University – KokomoIndiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Iowa State University Ithaca CollegeKalamazoo CollegeKettering UniversityKing’s College LaCrosse County Health DeptLakeland CollegeLake Forest CollegeLaSalle UniversityLawrence University Lincoln High SchoolLoyola UniversityMadison Area Technical CollegeMadison Metropolitan School DistrictMarian UniversityMcKendree UniversityMenomonie (WI) School DistrictMichigan Technological UniversityMillersville UniversityMilwaukee School of EngineeringMississippi University of WomenMontana State University – BozemanMontclair State UniversityMoraine Park Technical CollegeMt. Horeb School DistrictMt. Mary CollegeNebraska Wesleyan UniversityNew Mexico State University
Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeNorthern Illinois UniversityOzaukee County Council on AlcoholismPius XI High SchoolPlymouth State UniversityPortland State UniversityPurdue UniversityRacine (WI) Unifid School DistrictRamapo CollegeRipon CollegeRockford CollegeRowan UniversityRutgers UniversitySalisbury UniversitySalt Lake Community CollegeSheboygan County School DistrictSlinger High SchoolSonoma State UniversityStevens Point School DistrictSouth Dakota School of Mines & TechnologySouth Dakota State UniversitySoutheast Missouri State UniversitySouthern Illinois University – CarbondaleSouthern Illinois University – EdwardsvilleSouthwest (WI) Technical CollegeSt. Johns UniversitySt. Louis UniversitySt. Norbert CollegeState University of New York – CobleskillSun Prairie High SchoolTri-State UniversityTulsa Community CollegeUnion Grove School DistrictUniversity of CincinnatiUniversity of HartfordUniversity of Minnesota – Twin CitiesUniversityof NC – AshevilleUniversity of the PacificUniversity of West FloridaUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity of CincinnatiUniversity of Colorado – BoulderUniversity of DenverUniversity of HartfordUniversity of IdahoUniversity of Illinois – ChicagoUniversity of Illinois – Champaign
University of Indianapolis
University of MaineUniversity of NebraskaUniversity of North Carolina – Asheville
University of North Carolina – WilmingtonUniversity of ScrantonUniversity of Southern IndianaUniversity of the PacificUniversity of Texas – Austin
University of Texas – Pan AmericanUniversity of ToledoUniversity of West FloridaUniversity of Wisconsin – Eau ClaireUniversity of Wisconsin – La CrosseUniversity of Wisconsin – MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin – OshkoshUniversity of Wisconsin – PlattevilleUniversity of Wisconsin – River FallsUniversity of Wisconsin – School of PharmacyUniversity of Wisconsin – Stevens PointUniversity of Wisconsin – StoutUniversity of Wisconsin – SuperiorUniversity of Wisconsin – WhitewaterUniversity of Wisconsin Center – WaukeshaUrsinus CollegeValencia Community CollegeVirginia Polytechnic Institute & State UniversityWartburg CollegeWaterford (WI) School DistrictWaterford School DistrictWebb High SchoolWestern Illinois UniversityWestern Michigan UniversityWestern Wyoming Community CollegeWisconsin Technical College – New RichmondWisconsin Technical College – Rice LakeWrightsville School DistrictXavier UniversityYork College of Pennsylvania